Lesson Plan

• Describe how changes in transport costs influence the volume and pattern of international trade.
• Explain the main drivers of transport‑cost reductions (technology, infrastructure, energy prices, deregulation).
• Analyse the impact of lower transport costs on export supply, foreign direct investment and the location of production.
• Apply a simple inverse‑relationship diagram to illustrate how trade volume responds to falling transport costs.

• Projector and screen
• PowerPoint slides covering drivers and case study
• Handout with key points and a diagram template
• Worksheet with containerisation case‑study questions
• Whiteboard and markers
• Calculator (optional)

Begin with a quick poll: “What would happen to the price of a smartphone if shipping became half as cheap?” Use the responses to link prior knowledge of cost and price. Highlight that today’s lesson will explore why transport costs change and how those changes reshape global trade. State the success criteria: students will be able to describe drivers, explain effects, and illustrate the relationship with a diagram.

1. Do‑Now (5'): Students answer the poll question on a sticky note and justify their answer.
2. Mini‑lecture (10'): Present the four main drivers of transport‑cost change using slides and real‑world examples.
3. Case‑study analysis (12'): Work through the containerisation data table; students calculate the percentage cost reduction and discuss implications.
4. Diagram activity (10'): In pairs, sketch the export‑supply curve shift that occurs when transport costs fall; teacher circulates to check understanding.
5. Think‑Pair‑Share (8'): Prompt – “How might lower transport costs affect where a multinational locates its factory?” Share responses.
6. Formative check (5'): Quick quiz (Kahoot or hand‑raise) covering the drivers and their effects.

Recap the key points: transport costs are a variable that can shift comparative advantage, and recent technological and policy changes have dramatically lowered those costs. Ask students to write one “exit ticket” sentence summarising how a specific driver (e.g., containerisation) influences globalisation. Assign a short homework: research a recent innovation in logistics and predict its potential impact on trade patterns.